Antimicrobial silver compositions

Abstract

The present invention comprises methods and compositions for antimicrobial silver compositions comprising silver nanoparticles. The present invention further comprises compositions for preparing silver nanoparticles comprising at least one stabilizing agent, one or more silver compounds, at least one reducing agent and a solvent. In one aspect, the stabilizing agent comprises a surfactant or a polymer. The polymer may comprise polymers such as polyacrylamides, polyurethanes, and polyamides. In one aspect, the silver compound comprises a salt comprising a silver cation and an anion. The anion may comprise saccharinate derivatives, long chain fatty acids, and alkyl dicarboxylates. The methods of the present invention comprise treating devices with the silver nanoparticle compositions, including, but not limited to, such devices as woven wound care materials, catheters, patient care devices, and collagen matrices. The present invention further comprises treatment of humans and animals wacr6ith the antimicrobial devices described herein.

Description

RELATED APPLICATIONS[0001]The present application claims the priority of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60 / 592,687, filed Jul. 30, 2004, which is herein incorporated in its entirety.FIELD OF THE INVENTION[0002]The invention relates to antimicrobial compositions comprising silver nanoparticles, their preparation, the application of the compositions to surfaces and methods of preparing the devices.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0003]Silver derives its broad spectrum antimicrobial activity from the ability of silver ions to bind irreversibly to a variety of nucleophilic groups commonly available in cells of bacteria, viruses, yeast, fungi and protozoa. Binding to cellular components disrupts the normal reproduction and growth cycle resulting in death of the cell. Capitalizing on its potent activity, silver and its compounds have been incorporated over the past several decades in a variety of wound care products such as dressings, hydrogels, hydrocolloids, creams, gels, lotio...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0020]The compositions of the present invention are made by relatively straightforward methods, are water or solvent based, possess long shelf life (nearly a year) and can be made in large volumes and thus, the production process is scalable. The components of the compositions are relatively non-hazardous and can be washed off from treated surfaces to leave behind the antimicrobial silver nanoparticles. The compositions may be optically clear, non-viscous and may be stored for long periods of time at room temperature, require no special storage conditions, are resistant to discoloration when exposed to light, are thermally stable, fairly stable to acids and bases, and withstand thermal cycling and conventional centrifugation.

[0025]In general, an example of a method for making a composition of the present invention comprises mixing one of a surfactant or a stabilizing polymer with a silver compound that is a compound such as a salt that can ionize to a silver cation and an anion in solution, tetramethyl ethylene diamine (TEMED) and water. This mixture is heated to initiate the silver nanoparticle formation, which is indicated by a yellow color and a measurement of a characteristic absorption peak in the UV / VIS spectrum. The silver nanoparticles may form at any temperature, from sub zero to room temperature to very high temperatures. It will be recognized that a balance between temperature and time can be used to control the silver nanoparticle formation process. Heating the mixture can generally be used to accelerate the rate of nanoparticle formation.

[0027]Antimicrobial silver compositions have utility not only in imparting an antimicrobial property to medical devices but can also reduce the odor causing bacteria, in items, including, but not limited to, hosiery products such as panty hose, socks, undergarments, swim wear products, outfits for hunters and trekkers, ski wear products, athletic wear products for a variety of sports, for disinfection purposes, it can be used in household or consumer products such as bathroom or kitchen products, filters for humidifiers, shower curtains, cutting boards, sink sponges, bath sponges, and pumice stones. Compositions of the present invention can be also be used to treat a foam or porous matrix that can be added to un-potable water to disinfect it. In the construction industry, for the control of mold and mildew in homes the wooden structures during construction may be sprayed with the antimicrobial silver compositions of the present invention.

Problems solved by technology

It is generally recognized that it is difficult to produce silver nanoparticles in a non-aqueous medium, especially at high concentrations.

Often the techniques such as thermal evaporation or plasma deposition processes are unsuitable to achieve uniform deposition of silver inside of thin bore tubes with large aspect (length to diameter) ratio because of the inherent concentration gradients.

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